"Is Zhou Hongyi exaggerating or is he hiding something?"

"The recent chaos in the internet world has been intense. The explosion in Lebanon not only injured Hezbollah members but also put an end to the hype surrounding the iPhone 16's potential success in the Chinese market."

"The rumor that the iPhone 16 could explode, while seemingly unintelligent, has captured the attention of countless consumers, reigniting discussions on cybersecurity and also impacting the safety of new energy vehicles, which have long been a hot topic in public opinion."

"Compared to mobile phones, consumers are more concerned about whether smart connected vehicles, equipped with a large number of power batteries, are absolutely safe and whether they could become the next target of attack."

""At a time when consumers are full of doubts, Zhou Hongyi, the newly popular auto blogger and cybersecurity authority as well as the chairman of 360 Group, has released multiple videos expressing his views and even creating panic with the headline, 'The Internet of Everything Could Turn Phones and Cars into Bombs.'"

"This is not the first time Zhou Hongyi has discussed the issue of automotive cybersecurity. From his rise to fame to becoming a popular auto blogger, Zhou has consistently emphasized the importance of automotive cybersecurity, leading outsiders to believe that he intends to make a mark in the new energy vehicle industry."

"Cars also need cybersecurity","Regarding this panic, it can be analyzed from two perspectives. First is software security, where remote control is a common hacking method in the modern digital world. The second is hardware security."

"As cars fully enter the era of smart connectivity, the convenience of car usage for consumers has improved significantly. Not only can they remotely check vehicle status and information, but they can also remotely control their cars. Lotus, for example, has introduced a remote valet parking service, enhancing user convenience."

"Remote car control is not a new concept. Since the rise of smartphones, many developers have focused on automobiles, and some luxury models have been equipped with remote monitoring capabilities. However, these features were once considered toys for the wealthy."

"It was not until the rapid development of mobile internet that smart connected vehicles ushered in a new era of development. In particular, the introduction of 4G networks optimized network speed and latency, laying a foundation for remote vehicle-driver interaction and allowing users to fully control their vehicles."

"In 2014, the launch of Tesla made smart connected vehicles a reality, supporting remote control and over-the-air updates."

"Of course, the development of any technology is a double-edged sword. Just as the artificial intelligence world depicted in 'Terminator' shows, once technology is unregulated, it can bring unimaginable destruction. The same is true for smart connected vehicles."

"As the pioneer in this field, Tesla was also the first to encounter problems. In 2016, Tencent's Keen Security Lab successfully remotely hacked into a Tesla vehicle, sparking concerns among consumers about the safety of smart connected vehicles. However, these concerns did not receive sufficient attention but inspired director Gary Gray."

""In 2017, Gary Gray's new movie 'The Fate of the Furious' was released, featuring a scene where hackers remotely control cars across New York to stop the protagonists. This visually stunning scene also brought the issue of smart connected vehicle security to the forefront."

"That same year, serious security vulnerabilities were exposed in Tesla vehicles. American user Jason Hughes discovered a vulnerability in Tesla's updated Supercharger server that allowed unrestricted access to real-time information from all charging stations. At the time, there were no relevant data protection laws, meaning that Tesla's global charging information was accessible to anyone."

"Although this vulnerability was quickly patched by Tesla, Jason discovered a more critical system vulnerability. By combining several vulnerabilities, Jason found that he could remotely control any connected Tesla vehicle by simply entering the vehicle identification number, similar to the scene in the movie."

"After reporting these vulnerabilities to Tesla, Jason was rewarded with $50,000 for his discovery."

"This incident can be considered Tesla's biggest scandal in terms of cybersecurity. Since then, there have been multiple issues related to Tesla's cybersecurity, but they were largely forgotten as Tesla's sales continued to rise."

"However, recently, Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia's Chechen Republic, claimed that his Tesla Cybertruck was remotely locked by Elon Musk, rendering it unusable."

"The news raised awareness among many people that the absolute right to use smart connected vehicles, which seem convenient, is not in their hands. Since Tesla can remotely control vehicles, there is a risk that they could be hacked by third parties."

""At the recent second Tianwang Cup Cybersecurity Contest, auto influencer Zhou Hongyi organized 360's team to demonstrate a hack attack on a smart connected vehicle, pointing out that the current state of automotive cybersecurity is vulnerable. The 360 security team discovered over 120 vulnerabilities on-site, emphasizing that cybersecurity should be a focus for the future of the automotive industry."

"The video of the demonstration quickly sparked discussions among netizens after being posted online. Some even suggested naming 360's product '360 Car Guardian,' replicating the internet model for new energy vehicles."

"Zhou Hongyi's recent discussion on automotive cybersecurity was seen by many as a new business transformation for 360, with some suggesting that he was leveraging his influence to promote his own products."

"However, it is undeniable that the issues raised by Zhou Hongyi are indeed concerns that need to be addressed in the smart connected vehicle industry. Ensuring the security of remote vehicle usage requires the entire industry to quickly establish industry and national standards to protect consumer safety and allow them to enjoy the convenience brought by technology with confidence."

"Challenges in the Global Supply Chain","The explosion of a pager in Lebanon not only drew attention to the safety of smart connected vehicles but also posed a new challenge to the global supply chain."

"Taiwan and Japan, major global electronics manufacturing hubs, have come under scrutiny, with some even accusing factories that manufacture devices containing explosives of complicity."

"Such doubts have dealt a significant blow to the global supply chain system formed in the second half of the 20th century. Consumers worldwide have begun to question electronic devices produced under the global supply chain, particularly after Trump's use of a Chinese-made power bank during a livestream with Musk raised concerns about safety."

"These incidents have been forcibly linked, causing widespread panic and reigniting doubts about battery safety."

""In recent years, new energy vehicle companies have worked hard to establish a reputation for safe and reliable batteries through tests such as needle puncture and grounding impact, shaking off the dangerous label."

"Now, a few milligrams of explosives have once again made battery safety a major concern and threatened to disrupt the hard-earned global supply chain market."

"China is the world's largest producer and exporter of lithium-ion batteries and power batteries. In 2023, Chinese companies accounted for 73.8% of the global shipments of lithium-ion batteries, totaling 1202.6 GWh."

"These over 800 GWh of lithium-ion batteries have become the focus of suspicion for some Western media, who see them as a new terror brought by the East and extend this concern to national security."

"In particular, the US market, which has long shut its doors to Chinese new energy vehicles and power batteries, now has new room to maneuver."

"On September 20, Reuters reported that the US Department of Energy announced plans to allocate $3 billion to 25 battery manufacturing projects in 14 states, promoting American manufacturing and offering tax credits for electric vehicles."

"Of the companies receiving subsidies, all but one, which has ties to SK, are American battery suppliers. This subsidy is heavily tilted towards American companies, effectively excluding Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean firms."

"This demonstrates the US government's ability to capitalize on issues and exacerbates the fragile international supply chain, threatening to fracture the global automotive supply chain system that has taken years to develop."

"Both domestically and internationally, the Lebanon incident is being used to create a sense of insecurity, pushing the East and West into an era of mutual suspicion and speculation. This has transformed global production and manufacturing, which benefit consumers, into a source of global panic, particularly impacting new energy vehicles and consumer electronics."

"However, on September 18, Zeng Yuqun, the low-key founder and CEO of CATL, rarely gave an interview to Nicola Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, discussing CATL's leadership in lithium-ion battery technology and addressing the question of why Europe struggles to mass-produce high-quality batteries. The interview aimed to reassure Europeans and businesses, but it will undoubtedly be impacted by recent events."

"On one hand, Chinese auto brands are rapidly rising and stepping onto the global stage. On the other hand, Western countries are closing their doors, artificially creating terror crises that once again divide the world into isolated islands. China's auto industry, which is overtaking its competitors through electrification and intelligence, faces relentless challenges on this path."

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